Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

Andreas Thuresson was overlooked in the first year he was eligible for the draft. Scored impressive 10 goals and 5 assists as a SEL rookie with Malmö in 2006-07.

2007-08: Thuresson had an impressive season in what was his first taste of North American hockey. In 77 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) he scored 11 goals and seven assists. The forward also played in six postseason games, but failed to register any points.

2008-09: Thuresson played 74 games in his second year with Milwaukee, scoring 14 goals, 15 assists for 29 points. He added 3 goals, 1 assist in 11 playoff games.

2009-10: Thuresson made his NHL debut with Nashville at the end of October and split time between the Predators and their AHL affiliate Milwaukee in his third North American season. In 22 games for the Predators he scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -5 while averaging 10 minutes of ice time per game. Thuresson played 50 games for Milwaukee during the regular season, scoring 14 goals with 19 assists and was +13 with 24 PMs. Thuresson was the leading scorer for the Admirals in the playoffs with 2 goals and 7 assists; finishing +3 in seven games with 16 PMs. Thuresson was re-signed to a one-year contract by Nashivlle in June 2010.

2010-11: Thuresson skated in three games for the Predators in mid-January; spending most of the season in the AHL with Milwaukee. He was scoreless and -1 with 2 PMs seeing just over ten minutes of ice time per game with Nashville. In 76 AHL games with the Admirals he scored 14 goals with 24 assists and was +3 with 41 PMs. He skated in all 13 playoff games for Milwaukee and was +2 with 3 goals, 3 assists and 10 PMs. Thuresson was obtained by the Rangers for Brody Dupont in a trade with Nashville in July 2011 and signed a one-year contract with New York.

Talent Analysis

He's a two-way player who shoots right, has good size, is aggressive and plays physical and has decent offensive skills.

Future

Expected to start the season in Connecticut, Thuresson has not been able to yet make the transition to the NHL. A very successful start to the season with the Whale may bring an early call-up.

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The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that the team has come to terms with Russian defenseman Igor Knyazev, who was selected 15th overall in the 1st Round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Knyazev signed a three year deal, including a $900,000 signing bonus, the most ever given to a Hurricanes’ 1st round entry draft pick.

“We are very pleased to sign Igor,” assistant general manager Jason Karmanos said. “This will give him the opportunity to make our team. This will also get him acclimated to North America as soon as possible.”

Since Knyazev was drafted out of Europe, he has the ability to play in the AHL at 18 years old, unlike players who were drafted out of the OHL, WHL or QMJHL. With the Hurricanes lack of depth on defense, Knyazev will have a good chance of cracking the lineup. He plays a solid all-around game, and doesn’t make many mistakes on the ice. Knyazev plays what is known as a two-way style of game, as he can rush the puck up the ice and chip in offensively while also playing very good defensively and physically in his own zone.

At only 18 years old, rushing Knyazev into the NHL may be too heavy of a burden for him at such a young age. A season or two in the minors would certainly help him get comfortable with North America and the style of game that is played over here, but we’ll have to see how he performs in training camp. With Igor Knyazev and also David Tanabe in the organization, the Hurricanes have two top-notch young defenseman that they can build their team around in the future.

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Thoughts and Recollections on a lost season in Louisville

When the Florida Panthers limped to season’s end decimated by injuries all year round, it truly was an eye-opening realization that no team can compete when 367 man-games are missed and the roster is never set. The season truly affected the level of play in another team too, the AHL Louisville Panthers.

With a rotating call-up list, 14 of Louisville’s regulars saw extended time filling in at the NHL level, which included Joey Tetarenko and Brad Ference. Combined with the rotating roster in the AHL, a merciless schedule that saw Louisville play 20 of its first 23 games on the road, and a shaky ownership group, the season closely matched the NHL season as a season to forget.

Joey Tetarenko was called up for 29 games and was able to make an impact with his physical play and chipped in 3 goals as well. Brad Ference was aiming for a roster spot after a solid stint in 99-00, but had the misfortune of getting his jaw broken by Steve Smith in a game of shinny. He wasn’t able to rebound quickly enough and only got to see time in 14 games in South Florida, but is aiming for a roster spot for this upcoming season. Kyle Rossiter spent his whole season in Louisville, but his strong solid play and physical presence will make him one of the key components on the future Panther blue-line.

These 3 players took the time out of their busy off-season to give Hockey’s Future an update of what they are looking forward to, what they want to improve on, and their Read more»

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The New York Rangers have announced today that the team has agreed to terms with their 2nd round pick from this past draft (2001) in Russian defenseman Fedor Tyutin. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed that Tyutin agreed to a three year entry-level contract.

Fedor Tyutin, a 6-3 202 pound defenseman from Russia, was drafted by the Rangers in the 2nd round (40th Overall) of the 2001 Entry Draft. The Rangers scouts are extremely high on Tyutin, as they had him ranked 10th overall on their list heading into the draft and were ecstatic to see him still on the board in the 2nd round. A stay-at-home defenseman with some untapped offensive potential, Tyutin will likely play the 2001/2002 season with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Tyutin was selected by the Storm in the 1st round of the CHL Import draft a few weeks ago. Tyutin will be in camp, but most likely he will report to the Storm before training camp is over with.

Since Tyutin was drafted from Europe, the rules barring junior players to play in the AHL before they are at least 20 years old or have completed three junior seasons do not apply to him. Tyutin can play in the AHL this season, but it will be better for his development to play a season in juniors so he can get used to the North American style of hockey, as well as the different culture and also the English language. Tyutin will likely follow the same path that Tomas Kloucek took, as Kloucek came over to North America and played a season in the QMJHL before being an outstanding rookie with the Hartfo Read more»

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The Penguins have intentionally narrowed thier search for player personnel in an effort to solve two glaring dilemmas. One, to establish some immediate support for Mario and what may prove to be his final attempt at a Stanley Cup. Two, to lay the groundwork for the not-too-distant future as the Pens anticipate a new home.

The first issue is to give the club offensive and defensive options. Last season, when they needed to fill holes at the blueline due to injuries, they turned to Dollas and Kucera. Complete busts. When they needed role players to step in and score they pinned thier hopes on Corbet, Beranek, Primeau, and Laukkanen. No red lights were lit. The team got bigger and nastier with additions like Oliwa and Stevens. But they didn’t get faster and certainly not consistent. When one line opened it up, the others disappeared. Not enough players stepped up to change the outcome of the playoffs. Most critics cited depth. Why didn’t Hilinka utilze his other lines often? He didn’t trust that they would or could contribute, and often he was correct in his assumptions. Take Morozov. Please. Anyone.

Will Hrdina ever shoot enough to hit twenty goals, like so many people claim he has the ability to do? And anyone can tell you, when Slegr left so did what little blueline offense they had. Not that even that was much. Evidently the team needs to create offense on more levels. They need to bring speed and scoring to complement and somehow replace what was lost. They need wings that go into the corners and come out with the puck, that don’t shy away from the crease Read more»

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AHL NEWS

The American Hockey League’s Board of Governors have approved a new Calder Cup playoff format to accommodate the league’s recent expansion to 27 teams.
The new playoff format allows for the top 10 teams in each Conference to qualify for the post-season.
In a significant move to speed up the pace of the game, the AHL has unanimously adopted the faceoff procedures currently employed by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

This procedure will see line changes completed, and play resumed within 15 seconds of the previous stoppage of play. The league’s Board of Governors also approved a proposal to move to a fixed playing roster of 17 skaters and two goaltenders for the 2001-02 regular season.

The American Hockey League is the top development league for the NHL. Each of the NHL’s 30 clubs will develop their top prospects in the AHL during the 2001-02 season.
During the 2000-01 season, 247 players competed in both the AHL and NHL, while 70% of all players to competed in the NHL last season spent time developing their skills in the AHL.